Catherine Soyamphi :: Covid spurs to turn waste into wealth

R Lester Makang *

Catherine Soyamphi :: Pix - Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Amid the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, when markets came to a standstill, a wealth of wild fruits, abundant in Ukhrul district, faced a grim fate of spoilage and waste. A treasure trove of precious forest fruits were left to perish.

It was during this period that an innovative idea began to take shape, igniting a business concept that offered a glimmer of hope for positive change.

AS Catherine Soyamphi, a young woman from Lungshang Chingkha village, felt a stirring in her heart- a determination to transform this untapped potential into something meaningful.

"During the pandemic, I was struck by the precious fruits from our district that were left to rot due to a lack of market or preservation skills.

So, instead of allowing them to go to waste, I began exploring ideas on how to save them and turn them into useful products," Catherine shared, reflecting on her inspiration in an interaction with The People's Chronicle in Ukhrul town. She said that although the hills of her district are rich in naturally grown fruits throughout the year, it was sad to see so much of it going to waste.

According to Catherine, it was her dream to turn waste into wealth, and she set out to do just that.

Thus, with the support of her mother, AS Angela- a skilled food trainer - Catherine ventured into the world of food processing with a modest initial investment of just Rs 5,000."I started Soyam Foods in 2022, soon after the pandemic," she recounted, adding that her motivation is to create sustainable and high-quality products from the abundant but neglected fruits of her district.

Undoubtedly, Catherine has developed market-based solutions to combat the wastage of perishable fruits, particularly in the hill districts.

"With so many fruits of different seasons in our place, we can transform them into a variety of food and drink items, including exquisite heritage wines, so we can ensure sustainability of our resources," she remarked.

Today, Soyam Foods has blossomed into a household name in the state's food processing and micro-enterprises landscape, creating not just trustworthy products but also empowering local women by providing them with employment.

"Soyam Foods started with just my mom and me; but now, we are able to employ 25 people," she informed, adding that her workers are engaged in crafting a diverse array of heritage wines, candies, and pickles, all made from the very fruits that once languished in the hills.

Notably, Catherine's contributions to women empowerment through her venture were recognised when the Ukhrul district administration honoured her with a certificate of appreciation on International Women's Day, March 8, 2025 .

With its registered office and work-shed at Phungreitang East in Ukhrul town, Soyam Foods currently operates two outlets in the state, one in Ukhrul and the other in Imphal. "Apart from this, we are also collaborating with the 'Seven Sisters' and have established outlets in Guwahati, Mumbai, Delhi, and Shillong," she said.

Regarding her future plans, Catherine disclosed that she intends to expand her operations by soon opening a new work-shed in Imphal.

Initially, Catherine undertook training from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in food processing and value addition, and later from the Central Agricultural University (CAU) on export documentation and global supply logistics.